Fishing Report

With area saltwater still sloshing around from the recent storm front, the fishing forecast calls more for a sound craft and sturdy sea legs than special bait and technique.

Most of the boats have been held in harbor since a major storm passed through the area Thursday night.

Today might not be much better: The weather forecast calls for scattered showers and a 20-25-knot southern wind.

It's been that kind of spring. The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament registered 33 citation fish during April. Last year, 50 were registered. Tautog and sea bass accounted for 20 of April's citations.

LOWER BAY

A few flounder and mullet are being caught from Buckroe Pier. Random bluefish were being caught on cut bait before the storm struck. Once fishing conditions return to tolerable, the blues should be more plentiful and they should be feeding. Near the bay mouth, larger blues were hitting trolled red surgical tubing. There were reports of small spot and croaker being caught near Thimble Shoals.

BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL

Earlier in the week, black drum were hitting clam and crab bottom fished near the high rise span. Night fishermen were catching gray trout on plastic grubs jigged around the four islands during changing tides. Fishing near the islands' riprap is producing tautog and sea bass.

OFFSHORE

Bluefish have been caught from 15-25 miles offshore. The Hambone, the Fish Hook and the Lumps have had concentrations of blues since late April. Tautog and sea bass action around offshore wrecks continues to be steady.

MIDDLE BAY

Friday, a party out of Greys Point caught one gray trout and a small spot. Saturday's bluefish tournament, sponsored by the Deltaville volunteer fire department, was reduced to hanging on by windy conditions and choppy waves.

OUTER BANKS

More of the same. Windy conditions left most of the charter

fleets at the dock. Pier and sound fishermen were catching small blues and spot. A few mullet had also been taken. Surf fishermen were encountering speckled trout, though action was far from consistent. Weather predictions through Tuesday call for fair skies and diminishing winds. Expect the fishing to improve.

JAMES RIVER

At the James River Pier, spot and croaker are hitting blood worms fished on the incoming tide. Catfish are being caught on peeler crab. Farther up the river, perch and catfish are being caught, especially at the nuclear power plant in Surry.

FRESHWATER

Natural baits remain the best bet for crappie and northern pike. Largemouth bass action has slowed - the fish have moved to spawning beds. Catfish are hitting cut bait and night crawlers. At Chickahominy Lake, bream are being taken on crickets. Herring are running at Walkers Dam.